1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hey they're faithful listeners. Welcome to the Bible 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,239 Speaker 1: Explained Podcast. We're in Titus chapter two today, finishing up 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: this chapter talking about what being a Christian actually means, 4 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: because I think a lot of people don't quite understand. 5 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: You know, there's so many people that say, oh, yeah, 6 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: you know, I'm a Christian because they were a raised 7 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: Christian or because they go to church. But being a 8 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: Christian is far more than just saying that you are 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: a Christian and going to church every week. It's a 10 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: commitment that you make, and we're going to get into 11 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:42,279 Speaker 1: that today on the podcast. So I hope you guys 12 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: had a really good weekend and start to your week 13 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: so far. This past weekend was very, very busy for 14 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: me because it was our winter retreat for the kids, 15 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: and since my husband is the main youth leader and 16 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: i'm his second in command, it's our busiest week of 17 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: the entire year because we have to coordinate all of 18 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: the students. We've got to make sure that you know, 19 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: teenagers don't you know, run off somewhere and die. We 20 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: have to, you know, watch everybody like a hawk. And 21 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: I got almost no sleep the first night I was 22 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: at the winter retreat, because you know, you're on those 23 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: little camp beds and they're the most uncomfortable things on 24 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: the planet, Like they're made out of I don't know, 25 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: boards or palettes, I'm not sure, but they are not comfortable. 26 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: And so I was sitting there with my eyes wide 27 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: open and there's like this exit sign just like shining 28 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: down on my bed that was distracting me the entire night. 29 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: And then everybody's snoring because we're all in this little 30 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,199 Speaker 1: room together, and uh, yeah, I don't mean to complain 31 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: too much, but I didn't get any sleep. The first night. 32 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: The camp was amazing. It was a lot of fun 33 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: and the kids got a lot of really good time together, 34 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: a lot of time to connect with each other, and 35 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: also some good messages from the camp director who also 36 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: preached while we were there. Not to mention the worship 37 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: music was absolutely amazing. They did a great job with 38 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: it and I really really loved it. So we had 39 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: a fantastic time this weekend. I had to come home 40 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: early because I had to lead worship at my church, 41 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: so unfortunately I missed a lot of the things that 42 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: were going on Sunday morning at the camp, but very 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: busy weekend, and so now I'm still in recovery mode. 44 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: But I don't mean to talk about myself the whole time. 45 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: It's just an exciting weekend that I always like to 46 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: share with you guys. But of course, always feel free 47 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: to reach out and tell me what you guys are 48 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: up to. And also, if you have a prayer request, 49 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: I will write you down my little prayer journal and 50 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: pray for you for the week. But let's go ahead 51 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: and read Titus chapter two. But before we get into 52 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: this passage, here's a quick word from a sponsor. All right, 53 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: fay for listeners, go ahead and grab your bibles and 54 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: your cups of coffee or your cups of tea, and 55 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: let's go ahead and read Titus chapter two, six through fifteen. 56 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: I'll be reading from the web as usual. Likewise, Exhort 57 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: the younger men to be sober minded in all things, 58 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: show yourself an example of good works in your teaching. 59 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 1: Show integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, and soundness of speech that can't 60 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: be condemned. That he who opposes you may be ashamed, 61 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: having no evil thing to say about us. Exhort servants 62 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: to be in subjection to their own masters and to 63 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: be well pleasing in all things, not contradicting, not stealing, 64 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the 65 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: doctrine of God, our Savior in all things, for the 66 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 67 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, 68 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: we would live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age, 69 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory 70 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave 71 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: himself for us, that he might redeem us from all 72 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession. 73 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: Zealous for good works, say these things, and exhort and 74 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you. Looking 75 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: at verse six, I realized that I probably should have 76 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: talked this verse last week when we discussed how Titus 77 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: was supposed to interact with different people in the church. Specifically, 78 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: he was supposed to teach the older men and also 79 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: the older women. And now it says likewise, exhort the 80 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: younger men to be sober minded. So the only group 81 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: of people Titus was not supposed to teach directly, we're 82 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: actually the younger women. That was left up to the 83 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: older women, And we talked about all of that on 84 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: Thursday of last week's episode. So Titus was not supposed 85 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: to teach the younger women because that could get messy 86 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: very quickly. An older man teaching a younger woman one 87 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: on one over an extended period of time. That is 88 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: just not healthy behavior and it causes a lot of trouble, 89 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: as we know based upon the amount of sex scandals 90 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: that happened with pastors in the United States all the time. 91 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: So that is why Paul does not tell Titus to 92 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: teach the younger women. He's not supposed to. But he 93 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 1: can teach the younger men, even though the older men also, 94 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: we're supposed to teach the younger men as well, But 95 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: specifically he tells Titus to exhort the younger men to 96 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: be sober minded. Now, the idea of being sober minded, 97 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: we talked about it a little bit on Thursday. But 98 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: not only would this be abstaining from alcohol and other 99 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 1: substances that would alter your mind. Being sober minded essentially 100 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 1: comes down to having a strong mind, not being swayed 101 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: all the time, with every new belief that is told 102 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: to you, but believing firmly in the truth, searching for 103 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: the truth if you don't know what the truth is, 104 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: and also maintaining the faith. That is what sober minded means, 105 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: just having a strong mind, and that was what Titus 106 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,119 Speaker 1: was supposed to train these younger men in, to teach 107 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: them to be sober minded. And then in verse seven, 108 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: he says, in all things, show yourself as an example 109 00:05:55,400 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: of good works. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness, incorruptability, 110 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: and soundness of speech that can't be condemned. So Titus 111 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: could teach any person he wants to. He could be 112 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: the best teacher on the planet. But if he is 113 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: not living what he is teaching, then he could be 114 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: the best teacher in the world. But people wouldn't listen 115 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,359 Speaker 1: to him because they realize that he's hypocritical. If he 116 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: can't even follow what he's teaching, why should anybody else 117 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,679 Speaker 1: follow it. So Paul says, it is very important, Titus, 118 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: for you to be an example of good works, an 119 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: example of your teaching. He says, in your teaching, show integrity, 120 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: show seriousness, show incorruptibility. So make sure everything you preach 121 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: and teach is the truth. Have integrity with your teaching. 122 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: Teach with seriousness, so not in an irreverent or joking 123 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: kind of way, which honestly I have seen that before. 124 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: You know, specifically with youth leaders, I think they try 125 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 1: to be really relatable and sometimes their messages come across 126 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: very irreverently. I remember when I was in high school, 127 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: I went on an ad win a retreat and one 128 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,919 Speaker 1: of the female teachers that I had told me, she's like, 129 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: you know, God, he can handle any prayer that we 130 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: give him, and he's not going to get offended with 131 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: anything that you say, and so you can basically tell 132 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: him exactly what is on your heart. And then she 133 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: gives this example. She's like, sometimes I just tell God, yo, dude, 134 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: what is up with you? Like why would you do 135 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: this to me? And like that was her example. But 136 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: the thing was she was trying to come across as 137 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: very relatable to me, but it just ended up being 138 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: really tone deaf. So relatability doesn't mean being irreverent or 139 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: joking a lot in your sermons. You got to have 140 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: a seriousness with what you are presenting. And he says, 141 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: also have a soundness of speech that can't be condemned. So, 142 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: in other words, Titus needs to know what he's talking about. 143 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: He needs to know the scriptures so that when somebody 144 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: comes forward to say, oh, that's not actually what the 145 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: scriptures say, or oh that prophecy you're talking about doesn't 146 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: really mean that, Titus can go back to the scriptures 147 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: and be like, well, actually, yes it does. And ultimately 148 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: when that happens, the people who oppose Titus are going 149 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: to be shamed, is what Paul says. He says that 150 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil 151 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: thing to say about us. So Titus needs to live 152 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: in a way that reflects what he teaches, and he 153 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: also needs to teach in a way that is reverent 154 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,239 Speaker 1: and truthful, and he also needs to know his stuff. 155 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: So this is important for any single person who teaches 156 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: the Bible to somebody else. So if anybody listening to 157 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: this podcast, if you are a Sunday school teacher, or 158 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: if you teach teenagers, or if you have a podcast 159 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: of your own, or any other type of Bible teaching 160 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: that you do, even to your own kids, you should 161 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: follow these guidelines that Paul lays out for Titus, because 162 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: if you do, the people you are teaching are going 163 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: to connect with you a lot more because they're going 164 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: to see that you are sincere with what you are 165 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: teaching and that you follow it yourself. So you must 166 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: really believe it, because showing that you believe something is 167 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: not just teaching it, it's also following it yourself. Just 168 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: as you wouldn't want to follow a health coach that 169 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: pretends to live this wonderful lifestyle but secretly you know 170 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: is taking a whole bunch of drugs to make themselves 171 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: skinnier or more buff, and then eating a whole bunch 172 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: of junk at night. You would be offended if you 173 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: found all of that out. If you're actually listening to 174 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: all of their advice, you'd be like, well, you can't 175 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: even follow the advice you give, so you must not 176 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,839 Speaker 1: actually believe it. The same goes for Titus and his 177 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: presentation of the Gospel message. Then moving on to verse nine, 178 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: it says exhort to servants to be in subjection to 179 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: their own masters, and to be well pleasing in all things, 180 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: not contradicting, not stealing, but showing all good fidelity that 181 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in 182 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: all things. Now, again, just because Paul mentioned slavery does 183 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 1: not mean he is for slavery. In fact, the Christians 184 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: themselves were the ones that got rid of slavery. In fact, 185 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: I've mentioned this before, but Christianity is what ultimately undid 186 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 1: slavery because with Christianity, every person is equal in the 187 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 1: eyes of God. And so when Paul was writing about 188 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: slaves in the Old Testament, how slaves can go to 189 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 1: church with their masters and be on equal footing and 190 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: even possibly be above their masters in some ways at 191 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: the church because you know, a slave, if he is 192 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: a good and honorable person, he could potentially become an 193 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: elder of his church. So in that way, when the 194 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: master and the slave are together at church, actually the 195 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: slave has authority over the master. Which is why the 196 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 1: Christians were the ones who are part of the abolitionist movements, 197 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: was because they understood that everybody is equal in the 198 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 1: eyes of God. Half of the Roman world at this 199 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: time consisted of slaves. That was like fifty percent of 200 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: the population at this point were slaves. You know, Paul 201 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: was really worried about spreading the Gospel message. Ultimately that 202 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: would be the best form of eventually getting rid of 203 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: slavery is by having people become Christians and understanding at 204 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: that point that there is no slave or free any 205 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: longer when you become a Christian, and that was really 206 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: the best way to dismantle slavery. But yet Paul often 207 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: tells the slaves and the bond servants that they need 208 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: to obey their masters, and he says the word obey, 209 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: which means to listen to what they tell you to do. 210 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: And the reason Paul told the slaves to do this 211 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: was because they had a purpose for being a slave. Specifically, 212 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: if these slaves were Christians, their purpose was to spread 213 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: the Gospel through their lives, and through what they did, 214 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: they were supposed to shine the light. And if these 215 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: slaves became obedient and a humble and kind to their masters, 216 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: you can imagine that that would make the master take notice, 217 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: like what changed in my slave? Why is he all 218 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: of a sudden so obedient and kind and respectful to me? 219 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: So being a slave was a way to shine the 220 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: light of Jesus to the family that you were serving. 221 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: That's why Paul says, exhort the servants. So in other words, 222 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: encourage the servants to be in subjection to their own 223 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 1: masters and to be well pleasing in all things, not contradicting, 224 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: so not talking back, not stealing, which, by the way, 225 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 1: in Paul's day, it was so common for slaves to 226 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: steal that sometimes the word slave and thief were used interchangeably, 227 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: so people actually thought of slaves generally being thieves or 228 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: people who would just pilfer from the master all the time. 229 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: That's why Paul brings that up here, don't steal from 230 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: your masters, but showing all good fidelity that they may 231 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior in all things. 232 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: So there you go. They're supposed to adorn the doctrine, 233 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: adorn the gospel message meaning put it on, meaning show 234 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: it off, make it beautiful to other people. And the 235 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: slaves could do this by obeying their masters and being 236 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: kind and considerate. Because here's the thing. Yes, obviously God 237 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: loves the slave, he loves the poor, he loves the marginalized, 238 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: but he also loves the master, and he also loves 239 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: the politician, and he also loves the billionaire and all 240 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: these other people that society generally looks down on. God 241 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: loves everybody because He's created every single human being. God 242 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: wants every person to come to salvation, not to perish. 243 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: And that's why Paul focuses his attention on these masters, 244 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: because God also loves them, even if they own the slaves. 245 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: But here's the thing. This isn't just for Paul's day 246 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: and age, because here in Western society we don't really 247 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 1: have slavery in the same way. But this certainly applies 248 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: to us. And here's why. Because if we are Christians, 249 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: we are God's servants. We are his slaves. That is 250 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: what we sign up to be is the servant of God. 251 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: That is what being a Christian actually means. Is I 252 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: am going to become the servant of God and do 253 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: what he wants me to do and submit to his 254 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: will for my life. And I've been thinking about that 255 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: for myself recently because I'm not gonna lie. I am 256 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: a terrible servant of God because I do exactly what 257 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: Paul tells these other servants not to do. I contradict 258 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: God all the time. I'm always fighting against his will 259 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: and wrestling with him and saying I don't want to 260 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: do that, and like throwing a temper tantrum getting really 261 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: anxious whenever I feel that he wants to do something 262 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: that I don't want to do. I am a terrible 263 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: servant of God. And I was thinking this actually when 264 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: I was in the car the other day. I had 265 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: a long car ride that I was doing, and at 266 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: the beginning of the car ride, I was so angry 267 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: at God, and towards the middle of the car ride, 268 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: it just hit me. I'm like, you know, if I 269 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: had an employee that talked to me the way I 270 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: just talked to God, I would have smacked that employee 271 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: in the face and immediately fired them. And yet God 272 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: is so kind to us when we contradict him and 273 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: we're anxious and cruel and we tell him all of 274 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: these things that we don't like about him or what 275 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: he's doing in our lives. So that's how this passage 276 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: applies to us. We need to not contradict God, we 277 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: need to not steal from him. So how can we 278 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: steal from God? Well, actually, there's a verse about this 279 00:15:55,080 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: in Malachi chapter three, verse eight. Here's what God says. 280 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: He says, will a man rob God? Yet you rob me? 281 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: But you say, how have we robbed you? In tithes 282 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: and offerings. You are cursed with the curse for you 283 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: rob me even this whole nation. And then God goes 284 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: on to explain in that passage about how the people 285 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: were robbing him of the tithes and the offerings owed 286 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: to him because they were bringing these lame and crippled 287 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:31,359 Speaker 1: animals and these other offerings that were just absolute trash. 288 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: And God goes on to say, would you give this 289 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: a lamb that's lame and crippled to your governor? Like, 290 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: say your governor came over to your house and you 291 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: want to offer him something, would you give him a 292 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: lame animal? No, of course not. You would never do that. 293 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: You would give him the best of the best because 294 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: you want to impress him. And yet you give me 295 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: these crippled animals. And that's how we are robbing God. 296 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: And he might be like, well, Jen, we don't do 297 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: offerings like that to God anymore. Well, no, But we 298 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: can rob him in other similar ways, like, for example, 299 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: if you know that you should be doing something because 300 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 1: God tells you to do it, you fight with God 301 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 1: the entire time and you just don't do your best. 302 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 1: That's a way that you can absolutely rob God of 303 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: what is owed to him, or say you do give 304 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: an offering of some sort, but you give it out 305 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: of obligation and guilt, or maybe you hold something back 306 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: even though you promised God ahead time, like hey God, 307 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: I will give you this amount, and you just don't 308 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: do it. That's another way that you are robbing. So yeah, 309 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: we can absolutely rob God as servants when we are 310 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: not giving our best to him. When we give our 311 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: best to other people because we want to impress them, 312 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,199 Speaker 1: but we give God our remnants and our crap, that 313 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: is the way that we rob God. And Paul also 314 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 1: says that the servants need to show all good fidelity 315 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior 316 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: in all things. I actually had to look up what 317 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: the word fidelity means, and it's defined as faithfulness to 318 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 1: a person, cause or belief, demonstrated by a continuing loyalty 319 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 1: or support. So we need to show God fidelity. We 320 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,239 Speaker 1: need to be faithful to him in all things. And 321 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: that's really hard to do because you know, if he's 322 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: doing something in our life that we just don't get 323 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: or we don't like, that's when we start losing faith 324 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: in his plan and in who he is or we 325 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: might lose faith in his goodness. We might be like, well, God, 326 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: you know, I have faith in you, but I certainly 327 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: don't trust that you are good because I don't like 328 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 1: what you're doing in my life right now. But that's 329 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 1: not fidelity. Fidelity is trusting in God for who he 330 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: says he is, even if we don't understand what He's 331 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,880 Speaker 1: doing in our lives right now. And all of these 332 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: things are going to help us adorn the doctrine of God, 333 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: our Savior in all things. So we are these servants 334 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,919 Speaker 1: that Paul is talking about right here. We are these people, 335 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: but we are of God. And so that's one of 336 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: the ways that this actually applies to us right now. 337 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: Scripture always applies to us no matter what era we 338 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: live in. There's another verse in the New Testament that says, 339 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: the Word of God is alive and active and sharper 340 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: than any two edged sword. So the Word of God 341 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: is alive, and that's why it always applies to us 342 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: no matter what era we live in. Moving on to 343 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 1: verse eleven, it says, for the grace of God has appeared, 344 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,479 Speaker 1: bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent 345 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, 346 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 1: and godly in this present age looking for the blessed 347 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: hope and appearing of the glory of our great God 348 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: and Savior, Jesus Christ. So that right there is our 349 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: mission statement. That is why we live a life of 350 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: denying ourselves and our worldly lusts, is because God has 351 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: given grace and salvation to all of us people, so 352 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: that we will live so overly, righteously, and godly in 353 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: this present age looking for Jesus's return. We deny ourselves 354 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: because we become the servants of God, and in doing so, 355 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,679 Speaker 1: we can actually look forward to the day that Jesus 356 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: comes again. But the people who don't live for Jesus 357 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: or believe in Jesus, that's not going to be a 358 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 1: day that they look forward to. That's going to be 359 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 1: a day of misery for them, because when Jesus returns, 360 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: he is returning as a warrior. The first time that 361 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: Jesus came to the earth, he said that he did 362 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: not come to condemn the world. That was the first 363 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 1: time Jesus came. But the second time he is coming 364 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: to condemn the world. And the last thing we want 365 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: is to be standing in front of an all powerful, 366 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: wrathful god. We do not want that, and that is 367 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: why we live for Jesus. But that's not the only reasons, 368 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: because Jesus is our god. And it's also because he 369 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: loves us so desperately that he came to earth and 370 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: died on a cross that wasn't even meant for him. 371 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 1: It was meant for a man named Barabbas. It was 372 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 1: meant for our murderer. But Jesus was crucified on that 373 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: cross instead of Barrabas. And you know, Barabis represents every 374 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,679 Speaker 1: single one of us humans. That cross was meant for us, 375 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: and Jesus took that payment for us. And that's why 376 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 1: we followed Jesus and we love him because he first 377 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: loved us. It says in verse fourteen, he gave himself 378 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 1: for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity 379 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: and purify for himself a people for his own possession, 380 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: zealous for good works. And that's another reason we live 381 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 1: for Jesus, because we are thankful to him. We are 382 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: thankful for what he did up on that cross, how 383 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 1: he gave himself for us. And then Peter concludes by 384 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 1: giving Titus one last little thing. He says, say these things, 385 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 1: and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one 386 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 1: despise you. Titus was supposed to live in a way 387 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: where no one would despise him. And how might somebody 388 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: despise you? Well, if you're a jerk, if you mistreat people, 389 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 1: if you don't live out what you're saying, if you 390 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: are a liar or violent, those are some reasons why 391 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: somebody might despise you. So he gives Titus one last warning, 392 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: don't let people despise you. Act in such a way 393 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: that people aren't going to despise you. And here's the 394 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 1: other thing I wanted to mention that I forgot to mention. 395 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,719 Speaker 1: Going back to verse eight, he says, have sound as 396 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: a speech that can't be condemned, that he who opposes 397 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say 398 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: about us. I think that verse is actually interesting because 399 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: Titus wasn't just living a good life for himself. Yes, 400 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:42,199 Speaker 1: that was certainly part of it, so that people wouldn't 401 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 1: condemn him or despise him or think bad things about him. 402 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: But Titus was also a representative for the church, and 403 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: that's why. Paul says that if people don't despise Titus, 404 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: they're also not going to have any evil thing to 405 00:22:55,280 --> 00:23:00,479 Speaker 1: say about us, in other words, Christians in general. So 406 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: that's something Christians need to understand. You are not just 407 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 1: representing yourself, You are representing every single Christian on this 408 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 1: planet because the world is watching Christians. In fact, the 409 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 1: world is fascinated with the Christian lifestyle, and every single 410 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 1: Christian that does something bad yet claims to be about 411 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 1: Jesus that reflects poorly on other Christians because people look 412 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 1: at these hypocritical Christians and they're like, why would I 413 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: ever want to step foot in a church when people 414 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 1: act like that? Why would I ever want to associate 415 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: with Christianity when they all act like that? That's why, 416 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 1: Paul says, Titus, when you act correctly, people will have 417 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 1: no evil thing to say about us. So we as 418 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: God servants represent not just ourselves but also the church 419 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 1: as a whole. Well, thank you Faith listeners so much 420 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: for listening to this podcast episode. Before I say, have 421 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: be listening in God bless to all of you guys. 422 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 1: Here is a quick message from a sponsor all right 423 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 1: Faith for listeners, I hope Today's episode was very encouraging 424 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: for all of you guys, and maybe Convicting maybe taught 425 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: you something about being a servant for God, how important 426 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 1: that actually is, and how it's a vout, and how 427 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: becoming a Christian that is ultimately what you're supposed to 428 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: do is become Christ's servant. So if you are not 429 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 1: actually being a servant of God, if you are living 430 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: only for yourself, then I would encourage you to take 431 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 1: a step back and think about why did I become 432 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,720 Speaker 1: a Christian? What am I trying to gain from being 433 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:43,199 Speaker 1: a Christian, and what does God really want me to 434 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,919 Speaker 1: do as a Christian. Being a Christian is not a 435 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: way for us to control God and just you know, 436 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:52,239 Speaker 1: ask things from Him whenever we need something. That's not 437 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 1: what the Christian life is about. The Christian life is 438 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: about serving God with everything that we have, and we 439 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: have to learn how to become good servants. And it 440 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,640 Speaker 1: takes a really long time to learn that because we're 441 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:09,439 Speaker 1: all prideful, we're all selfish, we all want our own way. 442 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:12,959 Speaker 1: But thankfully God is very gracious and kind to all 443 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: of us, very bad servants. All right, faithful listeners, have 444 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 1: a fantastic and wonderful rest of your day. I'll see 445 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: you guys tomorrow for an episode from Second to Chronicles, 446 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: Happy listening, and God bless. I just want to take 447 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: a second to thank the team at Life Audio for 448 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,880 Speaker 1: their partnership with me on the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, 449 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 1: if you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 450 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 451 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.